Preston NE 1 - 0 Bristol City Saturday 30th November 2013 - 15:00 (League One) Not a game to bring the crowds flooding back to Deepdale but a priceless three points nevertheless to make it seven out of nine for North End in the last seven days. We did just about enough in the first half to merit our one goal lead but the performance after the break was certainly on the defensive side for a team third in the league and playing at home. Maybe the manager just wanted to win one at all costs and perhaps the strains of a huge shift in the Midlands on Tuesday evening were taking their toll as one or two got very weary late in the game. The Robins didn't offer a massive amount but still looked dangerous on occasions and the crowd held its collective breath as they rattled the bar late on only for the ball to bounce to safety. The sending off of Gallagher in injury time for a not very well disguised left hook will leave us short in the weeks to come but points in the bag are all that matter as the race for the Championship enters the vital Christmas phase North End started the game well and Gallagher and Wright had good chances in the first ten minutes. North End reverted to 3-4-1-2 will Gally playing behind the front two and being very effective covering plenty of ground. He had another effort well saved but the visitors started to come into the game and they had a good ten minutes before we took the lead just past the half hour mark. A free kick by Gallagher from the right was headed on by Clarke and Jack King headed low down and into the net to give us the lead. Two more chances before the break augured well for the second period and we marched off at the interval hoping that today would be the day. After the break I have to say we were mediocre at best, however having said that we defended resolutely and apart from one shot and a rattling crossbar near the end Bristol didn't cause use that many problems. The crowd were beginning to get anxious though and with the thoughts of seven points thrown away in the last three home games who could blame them. The manager shuffled the pack late on bringing on Byrom and Hume but to little effect as North End increasingly kept one eye on the clock and I suppose we held out without too many more scares but it was too close for my liking and the relief at the final whistle was there for all to see and hear. Not one for the scrapbook then but it finishes off a very successful week and we move on to Buckinghamshire next Saturday for the second round of the Cup as the hustle and bustle of the league has a rest for a week. Nineteen played and just six behind the leaders says the manager must be doing something right but if we could have a bit more polish and stability on the home performances We need a miracle.. http://www.psg.me.uk/roper/matchreport.php?id=20&season=1314
I said at the start of the season that it was a weak league aside from a small handful of clubs. I still only picked us to be around the playoff area come May, not for automatic promotion but we've been appalling and is it already too late to avoid more misery and relegation ? Time will tell but Cotterill has a huge job on his hands
